Curtiss KD2C/KD3C Skeet

In 1947, the Navy purchased a small number of KD2C-1 Skeet radio-controlled target drones from Curtiss. The KD2C-1 was a non-recoverable air-launched target, which was powered by a Continental 14" pulsejet in the fuselage. It was used for anti-aircraft gunnery practice. The KD2C-2, produced in 1948, was identical to the KD2C-1 except that it used a McDonnell 14" pulsejet. The Curtiss Skeet targets were no longer in use in 1951.

Photo: via Bowers

KD2C-1

The XKD3C-1 was a derivative of the KD2C-1 with a different type of engine. No further information is available.

Specifications

I have no detail information about the characteristics of the KD2C/KD3C series of target drones.

Main Sources

[1] US Navy: "Model Designations of Naval Aircraft", 1947 and 1950
[2] Roy A. Grossnick: "United States Naval Aviation 1910-1995", Naval Historical Center, 1997
[3] Peter M. Bowers: "Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947", Putnam, 1979

Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles, Appendix 1

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Last Updated: 2 April 2003